Gaia Estate, a passion for fine Greek wines
Gaia Estate was founded in 1994 by Yiannis Paraskevopoulos, an agronomist from the University of Athens and a doctor in oenology from the University of Bordeaux III, and Leon Karatsalos, also an agronomist from the University of Athens. Both founders exemplify the Greek travelling spirit and the will to acquire a wealth of knowledge and experience, all characteristics that shine through their wines. Their aim is to offer the best possible result to wine lovers from all around the world.
Yiannis Paraskevopoulos' vision for Gaia Estate
According to Yiannis Paraskevopoulos, the vision of the two founders is to establish vineyards in the two most prominent Greek wine regions, Santorini and Nemea, and to produce competitive high-quality wines.
Leon Karatsalos' vision for Gaia Estate
For Leon Karatsalos, his most cherished wish is that when people read the labels of Gaia Wines, they understand the challenging idea that was the driving force behind the project and that remains unchanged: to delve into the depths of these promising Greek grape varieties and elevate their worldwide reputation.
What is the meaning behind Gaia Estate's label?
The estate has chosen a strong symbol: the ammonite. This is a famous fossil from the Aegean Sea that is said to whisper the ancient secrets of the Greek land. This symbol has now travelled the world on the Gaia Estate's bottles and carries the name of the estate along with that of the Agiorgitiko and Assyrtiko grape varieties.
Gaia Estate in Nemea
The vineyard of Koutsi in Nemea
The Gaia Estate winery in Nemea was built in 1997 and is situated in the heart of the Koutsi vineyard in Nemea, at an altitude of 550 metres. Gaia Estate's decision to locate in Koutsi was based on the fact that this vineyard has lower yields than other parts of Nemea as well as chalky, well-drained soils and cool temperatures. As a result, the Agiorgitiko grapes grown in Koutsi are of better quality than those grown in the rest of the Nemea area and are ideal for producing high-quality wines aged in oak.
Gaia Estate’s vinification process
The equipment and quality controls provide the oenologist with the opportunity to produce high-quality wines. Yiannis Paraskevopoulos and his team manage every step of the winemaking process with the sole intention of producing only the highest quality wines.
Gaia Estate in Santorini
An ideal location for the making of Cycladic wines
The Gaia Estate winery is located on a beach on the eastern side of the Santorini island, in the Cyclades, between the hamlets of Kamari and Monolithos. The industrial stone building is a rare and charming old monument that has been renovated by Gaia Estate in order to preserve the island's architectural heritage, all while adding a modern touch.
Modern equipment for a state-of-the-art winemaking process
Today, the high-tech equipment and state-of-the-art facilities at Gaia Estate's Santorini winery guarantee a contemporary winemaking process and ideal conditions for a quality-oriented production.
In a small cellar aside from the main cellar, the estate has set up a space where a rare, sweet and aromatic Assyrtiko vinegar is produced. Classified quantities are bottled each year.
